Broadcasting receiver and offer method for broadcasting program

ABSTRACT

A broadcasting receiver and a method for providing information on broadcasting programs using the same are disclosed. Information on a currently watching broadcasting program ( 110 ) and information on a broadcasting scheduled program ( 110 ) are provided on a screen ( 100 ) by a simple key operation and a recording reservation for a broadcasting program can be set or cancelled by using the provided information. Therefore, the convenience of a user is increased and information on broadcasting programs can be easily obtained without interrupting viewing of the currently watching broadcasting program.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a broadcasting receiver, and more particularly, to a broadcasting receiver for displaying information on a currently watching program and information on a broadcasting scheduled program on a screen, and a broadcasting program providing method using the same.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, the number of channels provided by a broadcasting station has remarkably increased due to digital broadcasting, cable broadcasting, etc.

Accordingly, a technique capable of efficiently confirming information on numerous channels by a user has been proposed.

As one approach to such a technique is an electronic program guide (EPG) technique. The EPG is an application program used together with a digital subscriber set-top box to make a program schedule in which programs and summaries for respective channels are contained.

The EPG provides a guide which is the same as a printed television (TV) program guide and uses remote control equipment. The EPG has functions such as pay-per-view program order, program search for themes and types, and video recording.

However, when a user is desired to confirm information on a broadcasting scheduled program through the EPG information, if a specific remote controller corresponding to a broadcasting receiver is lost or out of order, it is difficult to confirm detailed information on a specific channel, and the user should operate an additional remote controller in order to confirm a broadcasting scheduled program while watching a broadcasting program.

Moreover, if the user is desired to set a recording reservation function for a broadcasting scheduled program, the user can not watch for a moment a currently watching program by setting a recording program by movement to a corresponding menu and it is complicated to manipulate the remote controller.

DISCLOSURE [Technical Problem]

An object of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies on providing a broadcasting receiver which can confirm information on a broadcasting scheduled program as well as information on a currently watching broadcasting program by a simple manipulation of a remote controller, and a broadcasting program providing method using the same.

Another object of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies on providing a broadcasting receiver which can automatically offer information on broadcasting scheduled programs without inputting an additional key and can reserve and cancel program recoding by a simple key manipulation without stopping a currently watching broadcasting program, and a broadcasting program providing method using the same.

[Technical Solution]

The object of the present invention can be achieved by providing a method for providing information on broadcasting programs. The method includes: receiving and storing information on a broadcasting program guide; if a user inputs a specific key while watching a broadcasting program, detecting information on a currently watching broadcasting program and information on a broadcasting scheduled program; and displaying the information on the currently watching broadcasting program and the information on the broadcasting scheduled program in a partial region of a currently watching screen.

In another aspect of the present invention, provided herein is a broadcasting receiver including: a memory for receiving information on a broadcasting program guide and storing information on channels; a controller for detecting information on a currently watching broadcasting program and information on a broadcasting scheduled program when a user inputs a specific key while watching a broadcasting program; and a display for displaying the information on the currently watching broadcasting program and the information on the broadcasting scheduled program information in a partial region of a currently watching screen.

[Advantageous Effects]

The present invention displays information on a currently watching broadcasting program and information on a broadcasting scheduled program on a screen by a simple key operation and can set or cancel a recording reservation for a broadcasting program by using the displayed information, thereby increasing user's convenience. Further, information on broadcasting programs can be easily obtained without interrupting viewing of the currently watching broadcasting program.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a broadcasting receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method of providing information on broadcasting programs of a broadcasting receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A to 3C illustrate TV screens for providing information on broadcasting programs according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate TV screens for providing information on a plurality of broadcasting programs according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a TV screen for setting a recording reservation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of automatically providing information on broadcasting programs according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, a broadcasting receiver and a broadcasting program information providing method using the same according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a broadcasting receiver providing information on broadcasting programs according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a broadcasting receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a TV providing information on a currently watching broadcasting program and information on a broadcasting scheduled program when a confirmation key of a remote controller is inputted. The broadcasting receiver includes a controller 102 for controlling the TV as a whole, a memory 103 for storing received EPG information, a tuner 108 for tuning a broadcasting channel by the control of the controller 102, a transport stream (TS) decoder 112 for processing a digital broadcasting signal, and an NTSC (NT) decoder 120 for processing an analog broadcasting signal.

The broadcasting receiver also includes an EPG generator 121 for extracting EPG information from side information contained in the digital or analog broadcasting signal and generating an EPG, a personal video recorder (PVR) module 122 for recording a received broadcasting program by the selection of a user or temporarily storing the received broadcasting program according to a time shift function, and an audio and video processor 134 for processing the digital or analog broadcasting signal, or broadcasting data provided by the PVR module 122 to be outputted through a speaker 136 and a display 137.

The controller 102 controls the TV as a whole. Especially, if a user inputs a confirmation key while watching the TV, the controller 102 searches the EPG which has received from a broadcasting station and previously been stored in the memory 103 and controls the display 137 to display information on broadcasting scheduled program together with information on a currently watching broadcasting program on a screen.

The information on the currently watching broadcasting program provides the broadcasted amount of the currently watching broadcasting program as a progress bar type to display a broadcasting program progress state.

Information on broadcasting programs detected from the memory 103 and provided by the controller 102 is information on one broadcasting program which is to be broadcasted directly after the currently watching broadcasting program is ended, or information on at least one broadcasting program which is to be broadcasted after the currently watching broadcasting program is ended.

When providing the information on the broadcasting scheduled programs, the controller 102 provides up/down/left/right arrow keys. If a user selects a specific arrow key, information on a broadcasting scheduled program is sequentially shifted to information on the next broadcasting scheduled program. Alternatively, the information on the broadcasting scheduled programs is displayed by automatic sliding conversion at intervals of a setting time.

If the user selects the left/right keys from the up/down/left/right arrow keys displayed in the information on the broadcasting scheduled program, information on programs to be broadcasted through the same channel as the currently watching broadcasting program is provided. If the user selects the up/down keys, information on programs to be broadcasted through other channels at the same time period as the broadcasting scheduled program is provided.

If a key signal for making a recording reservation for a specific broadcasting program is inputted by the user under the state that information on broadcasting programs is displayed, the recording reservation for a selected program can be set or cancelled.

A user interface 106 is a keypad provided on a TV body or a remote controller. The user interface 106 transmits various commands or information inputted by the user to the controller 102. Especially, if the user inputs a confirmation key signal while watching a broadcasting program, the user interface 106 provides the confirmation key signal to the controller 102 and provides a selection key signal inputted by the user on an on-screen display (OSD) to the controller 102.

The tuner 108 tunes channels out of broadcasting data inputted through a sky wave or a cable by the control of the controller 102. A digital broadcasting signal and an analog broadcasting signal among broadcasting signals received through the tuned channel are respectively supplied to the TS decoder 112 for processing the digital broadcasting signal and the NT decoder 120 for processing the analog broadcasting signal.

The TS decoder 112 decodes the digital broadcasting signal provided by the tuner 108, converts the decoded signal into audio and video streams and a data stream, and transmits the converted streams to a first switching unit 114.

The first switching unit 114 transmits the audio and video streams and the data stream to the EPG generator 121 by the control of the controller 102.

The EPG generator 121 generates an EPG with detailed information on broadcasting programs by using side data contained in a received broadcasting program and transmits the EPG to the memory 103.

A second switching unit 118 receives the analog broadcasting signal from the tuner 108 and an external input signal and selectively transmits any one of the two signals to the NT decoder 120 by the control of the controller 102.

The NT decoder 120 for processing the analog broadcasting signal receives the analog broadcasting signal or the external input signal from the second switching unit 118, decodes the analog broadcasting signal or the external input signal to audio and video data, and transmits audio and video streams and a data stream to the EPG generator 121 by the control of the controller 102.

The PVR module 122 receives the audio and video streams and the data stream of the digital broadcasting signal by the control of the controller 102 and stores them in a storage unit 127. Alternatively, the PVR module 122 MPEG encodes audio and video data of the analog broadcasting signal to the audio and video streams and stores the encoded streams in the storage unit 127.

Further, when receiving a broadcasting program for which recording reservation is selected by the user, the PVR module 122 stores the corresponding broadcasting program in the storage unit 127.

A third switching unit 130 selects at least one of the broadcasting program received according to the control of the controller 102 and the broadcasting program stored in the PVR module 122 and transmits the selected program to an audio and video decoder 132.

The audio and video decoder 132 decodes the audio and video streams to video and audio data and provides the audio and video data to the audio and video processor 134, when the audio and video streams are provided thereto. If the audio and video data is provided to the audio and video decoder 132, the audio and video decoder 132 provides the audio and video data to the audio and video processor 134.

The audio and video processor 134 processes at least one of the audio and video data provided by the audio and video decoder 132 and outputs the processed audio data and video data to the speaker 136 and the display 137, respectively. The audio and video processor 134 mixes OSD data provided by the controller 102 with the video data and transmits the mixed data to the display 137.

An OSD generator 138 generates an OSD signal for information on a currently watching broadcasting program and information on a broadcasting scheduled program when an EPG is executed under the control of the controller 102 and provides the OSD signal to the display 137.

A broadcasting program providing method of the broadcasting receiver having the above-described construction will now be described with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a broadcasting program providing method of a broadcasting receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. If a user selects a menu in order to set information for providing an EPG through the interface 106 of the TV and inputs information for providing broadcasting programs by using an OSD displayed on a screen (step S100), the information for providing the EPG is set and stored in the memory 103 and information on broadcasting programs for each channel received from a broadcasting station is stored (step S110). If the user inputs a confirmation key by using a remote controller while watching a broadcasting program received through a specific channel (step S120), the controller 102 searches information on a currently watching broadcasting program and EPG information on broadcasting scheduled programs (step S130). Thereafter, the controller 102 detects information on broadcasting programs from the memory 103 (step S140).

Next, information on the currently watching broadcasting program and information on the broadcasting scheduled program to be broadcasted after the currently watching broadcasting program is ended are displayed on a partial region of a TV screen (step S170).

Information 110 on broadcasting programs may be displayed in a partial region of an upper part of a screen of a TV 100 as shown in FIG. 3A or displayed in a partial region of a side part of the screen as shown in FIG. 3B, so that the broadcasting program information 110 does not occupy many parts of a currently watching screen.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the information 110 on a next scheduled program provided together with information on a currently watching broadcasting program in a partial region of a viewing screen according to an input of the confirmation key by the user may be information on one program which is to be broadcasted directly after the currently watching broadcasting program is ended or information on at least one program which is to be broadcasted after the currently watching broadcasting program is ended.

If there is information on a plurality of programs to be displayed on the screen of the TV 100, the controller 102 controls the TV screen to display broadcasting program information by conversion to information on a next program in order according to a key signal inputted through a remote controller by a user setting or to display broadcasting program information by automatic sliding conversion at intervals of a setting time.

As illustrated in FIG. 3C, if there is information on a plurality of programs to be broadcasted, arrow keys 112 and 114 are provided at upper, lower, left and right sides of a broadcasting scheduled program. If a user selects a specific arrow key, information on the broadcasting scheduled program is converted into information on the next program and the converted information is displayed.

If the left/right keys 114 are selected among the up/down/left/right keys 112 and 114 displayed in the information of the broadcasting scheduled program, information on programs which is to be broadcasted through the same channel as a currently watching broadcasting program is provided. If the up/down keys 112 are selected, information on programs which is to be broadcasted through other channels at the same time period as the broadcasting scheduled program is provided.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, displayed information on broadcasting scheduled programs is changed when there is information on a plurality of broadcasting scheduled programs. While a broadcasting program entitled ‘Drama Special’ is being provided by the selection of a user, the controller 102 provides information on a currently watching program and information on a next scheduled program by an input of a confirmation key or by information set to automatically display a program.

Thereafter, the controller 102 displays information on a plurality of broadcasting programs which is to be broadcasted after the currently watching program is ended in broadcasting order by sliding conversion at intervals of a setting time.

For example, referring to FIG. 4A, information on a broadcasting scheduled program ‘KBS News’ which is scheduled after the currently watching program is ended is displayed together with the information on the currently watching program. If a setting time elapses, information on a broadcasting program which is to be broadcasted after the program ‘KBS News’ is ended, that is, information on a program ‘TV Cartoon’ is displayed together with the information on the currently watching program as shown in FIG. 4B.

In a method of displaying a plurality of broadcasting programs, program information may be displayed with time intervals according to user setting or displayed by information conversion one by one according to an arrow key signal inputted by the user.

Meanwhile, while the user is watching a broadcasting program received through a specific channel, if a confirmation key signal is not inputted even though it is almost time to end the corresponding broadcasting program in step S120, the controller 102 checks whether the broadcasting program information is set to be automatically displayed by confirming information for providing the EPG set in the memory 103 (step S150). If the program information is set to be automatically displayed, the controller 102 detects information on a next scheduled program at a setting time before the currently watching program is ended (step S160). The controller 102 displays information on the currently watching program and information on the next scheduled program (step S170).

If a recording reservation signal for the displayed broadcasting scheduled program is inputted by the user under the state that information on broadcasting programs is displayed, the controller 102 sets the corresponding broadcasting program selected by the user to be recorded. If a cancel signal for the broadcasting program for which recording is scheduled is inputted, a recording reservation is cancelled.

Referring to FIG. 5, if the user inputs a confirmation key while watching a broadcasting program, information on a currently watching broadcasting program and information on a broadcasting scheduled program are displayed at an upper side of a screen. If the user sets a recording reservation for the scheduled program ‘KBS News’ which is to be broadcasted after the current program ‘Drama Special’ is ended, recording reservation setting is displayed in the information on the broadcasting scheduled program. The recording reservation setting can be cancelled by a simple key operation.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of automatically providing information on broadcasting programs according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, if a user selects a menu in order to set information for providing an EPG through the interface 106 of the TV and automatically sets information for providing broadcasting programs by using an OSD displayed on a screen (step S200), the information is stored in the memory 103 and information on broadcasting programs for each channel received from a broadcasting station is stored (step S210).

The controller 102 provides a broadcasting program received through a specific channel selected by a user and periodically confirms an end time of a currently watching program (step S220). If the end time of the currently watching program is before a predetermined time set to automatically provide information on a broadcasting program, the controller 102 searches information on the currently watching broadcasting programs and EPG information on a next scheduled program and detects the detected information from the memory 103 (step S240).

Next, information on the currently watching broadcasting program and information on the next scheduled program are automatically displayed in a partial region of the screen (step S250).

Information on broadcasting programs is displayed in a partial region of an upper part or a side part of the TV screen, so that the broadcasting program information does not occupy many parts of a currently watching screen.

If there is information on a plurality of broadcasting scheduled programs to be displayed on the TV screen, the controller 102 controls the TV screen to display broadcasting program information by conversion to information on a next program in order according to a key signal inputted through a remote controller by a user setting or to display broadcasting program information by automatic sliding conversion at intervals of a setting time.

It is desirable that the information on the broadcasting scheduled programs is information on broadcasting programs which are to be broadcasted through the same channel as the currently watching program.

If there is information on a plurality of programs to be broadcasted, up/down/left/right arrow keys are provided. Moreover, information on programs which are to be broadcasted through the same channel as the currently watching program or information on programs which are to be broadcasted through other channels at the same time period as the broadcasting scheduled program is provided.

Meanwhile, if the end time of the currently watching program is not before a predetermined time set to automatically provide information on a broadcasting program, the broadcasting program received through a specific channel selected by the user is provided on the screen and periodically confirms the end time of the currently watching broadcasting program (step S230).

If a recording reservation signal for the broadcasting scheduled program is inputted, the controller 102 sets the corresponding broadcasting program selected by the user to be recorded. If a cancel signal for the broadcasting program for which recording is scheduled is inputted, recording reservation setting is cancelled.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

MODE FOR INVENTION

Various embodiments have been described in the best mode for carrying out the invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention provides information on a currently watching broadcasting program and information on a broadcasting scheduled program by a simple key operation and can set or cancel a recording reservation for a broadcasting program by using the provided information. Further, information on broadcasting programs can be easily obtained without interrupting viewing of the currently watching broadcasting program. 

1. A method for providing information on broadcasting programs, comprising: receiving and storing information on a broadcasting program guide; if a user inputs a specific key while watching a broadcasting program, detecting information on a currently watching broadcasting program and information on a broadcasting scheduled program; and displaying the information on the currently watching broadcasting program and the information on the broadcasting scheduled program in a partial region of a currently watching screen.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the information on the broadcasting program displays information on one program which is to be broadcasted directly after the currently watching broadcasting program is ended.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the information on the broadcasting program displays information on at least one broadcasting program which is to be broadcasted after the currently watching broadcasting program is ended.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the information on the broadcasting scheduled program is displayed by conversion to information on a next program in order by a key signal inputted according to user setting.
 5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the information on the broadcasting scheduled program is displayed by conversion to information on a next program in order when up/down/left/right arrow keys are selected by a user, or displayed by automatic sliding conversion at intervals of a setting time.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein if the left/right keys are selected by a user from the up/down/left/right arrow keys displayed in the information on the broadcasting scheduled program, information on programs to be broadcasted through the same channel as the currently watching broadcasting program is provided, and if the up/down keys are selected, information on programs to be broadcasted through other channels at the same time period as the broadcasting scheduled program is provided.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information on the broadcasting scheduled program is information on a program which is to be broadcasted through a broadcasting channel of the currently watching broadcasting program.
 8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising setting or canceling a recording reservation for a broadcasting scheduled program according to a user input.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information on the currently watching broadcasting program displays a broadcasted amount of a corresponding broadcasting program as a progress bar type.
 10. A broadcasting receiver, comprising: a memory for receiving information on a broadcasting program guide and storing information on channels; a controller for detecting information on a currently watching broadcasting program and information on a broadcasting scheduled program when a user inputs a specific key while watching a broadcasting program; and a display for displaying the information on the currently watching broadcasting program and the information on the broadcasting scheduled program information in a partial region of a currently watching screen.
 11. The broadcasting receiver according to claim 10, wherein the controller detects information on one program which is to be broadcasted directly after the currently watching broadcasting program is ended.
 12. The broadcasting receiver according to claim 10, wherein the controller detects information on at least one broadcasting program which is to be broadcasted after the currently watching broadcasting program is ended.
 13. The broadcasting receiver according to claim 12, wherein the information on the broadcasting scheduled program is displayed by conversion to information on a next program in order by a key signal inputted according to user setting.
 14. The broadcasting receiver according to claim 12, wherein the information on the broadcasting scheduled program is displayed by conversion to information on a next program in order when up/down/left/right arrow keys are selected by a user, or displayed by automatic sliding conversion at intervals of a setting time.
 15. The broadcasting receiver according to claim 14, wherein if the left/right keys are selected by a user from the up/down/left/right arrow keys displayed in the information on the broadcasting scheduled program, information on programs to be broadcasted through the same channel as the currently watching broadcasting program is provided, and if the up/down keys are selected, information on programs to be broadcasted through other channels at the same time period as the broadcasting scheduled program is provided.
 16. The broadcasting receiver according to claim 10, wherein the controller detects information on the broadcasting scheduled program through a broadcasting channel of the currently watching broadcasting program.
 17. The broadcasting receiver according to claim 10, wherein the controller sets or cancels a recording reservation for the displayed broadcasting scheduled program according to a key signal inputted by a user.
 18. The broadcasting receiver according to claim 10, wherein the information on the currently watching broadcasting program displays a broadcasted amount of a corresponding broadcasting program as a progress bar type.
 19. The broadcasting receiver according to claim 10, wherein the display displays the information on the broadcasting program by modifying any one of display location, background color, text color, and font size of the information according to user setting. 